OTTAWA (ON) – The Canadian Squash team returned from the Pan American Championships in Toluca, Mexico on Sunday with a total of five medals, adding two medals in the team competition over the weekend.
OTTAWA (ON) – The Canadian Squash team returned from the Pan American Championships in Toluca, Mexico on Sunday with a total of five medals, adding two medals in the team competition over the weekend.
After successful runs in the Pool rounds for the Men’s and Women’s teams, both found themselves in quarter-final matchups against Colombia on Friday. The ladies were up first, and Danielle Letourneau quickly got Canada on the board with a win over Ana Gabriela Porras 3-0 (11-3, 11-7, 11-7). Sam Cornett had the second match of the encounter against Catalina Pelaez, who took her to five games in the individual draw. Pelaez showed it was going to be another close match by taking the first game 11-9, but Sam battled back to win the next three (11-5, 11-7, 11-3), and secure Canada’s spot in the semi-finals.
The Canadian Men’s quarter-final encounter against Colombia started with a win from Shahier Razik over Erick Herrera 3-0 (11-6, 11-9, 11-3), and a loss by Shawn Delierre to the individual champion Miguel Angel Rodriguez 3-0 (11-6, 11-8, 11-1). The third and deciding match came down to Graeme Schnell of Calgary against Andres Herrera. The match was a hard fought 43 minutes, with Schnell coming out on top 3-0 (11-8, 11-9, 11-5) to advance Canada to the semis.
The Women’s semi-finals had Canada facing Mexico in a marquee Friday night match up in front of a large home town crowd. Danielle Letourneau was again the first match, playing in the number two position against Diana Garcia. Letourneau took the match convincingly 3-0 (11-4, 11-6, 11-6) to get the first win for Canada. Samantha Cornett was on next in a Women’s Finals rematch against Samantha Teran. Teran took the first game 11-6, but again Cornett was able to battle back and win the next three to secure the match and encounter win for Canada.
With the Women into Saturday afternoon’s Finals, the Men’s team had their turn to answer in their own semi-final on Saturday morning against Arentina. Shawn Delierre again played the number one position for Canada and was against Roberto Pezzota in the opening match. Delierre lost the first game, but came back to take the match 3-1 (7-11, 13-11, 11-7, 11-3) and put Canada one step closer to the final. Graeme Schnell found himself in another deciding match, taking on Gonzalo Miranda. Schnell took the first two games 11-7 and 11-9, dropped the third 11-4, but secured Canada’s spot in the final with an 11-9 win in the fourth to take the match 3-1.
Saturday afternoon had the Women’s final of Canada versus the United States, with the number one match of Samantha Cornett against Sabrina Sobhy leading things off. Cornett had defeated Sobhy in route to the women’s individual final earlier in the week, but the long matches and tough schedule got the best of her, and she lost the match 3-1 (11-6, 11-7, 13-11, 11-7) to give the States the early lead. Nikki Todd was on next in the number three position against Maria Elena Ubina. Todd dropped the first game, but stormed back to take the match 3-1 (3-11, 11-9, 11-9, 11-5). The final came down to the third match between women’s individual bronze medalists Danielle Letourneau and Olivia Blatchford. Letourneau took the first game 11-5, but was unable to fend off Blatchford who came back to win the next three and the Gold for the United States.
Guaranteed a fifth medal of the event, Canada’s Men’s team were hoping to capitalize on Canada’s last chance to be at the top of the podium. That path would have to be through the host Mexicans, in front of another large crowd. Shawn Delierre opened the match against Alfredo Avila, and despite a tough battle wasn’t able to get past the Mexican, losing 3-1 (11-6, 7-11, 11-9, 1210). The second match had Graeme Schnell against Eric Galvez, each player taking one of the first two games. Schnell was unable to get two more, and Galvez took the match 3-1 (11-8, 4-11, 11-6, 11-2) giving Mexico the win and Canada another silver medal.
The team finishes capped off a successful week for Canada, who also secured a silver medal in the Women’s Doubles event, and silver and bronze in the Women’s Individuals. Canada’s silver medals in the team events should solidify a number two ranking going into the team events at next summer’s Pan American Games in Toronto.
For more information, contact:
Danny Da Costa
Executive Director, Squash Canada
Email: ddacosta@squash.ca
